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August 20, 2007

Name That Reliever

This late-inning specialist has had an excellent 2007 season, but he stumbled terribly in the past week, not doing his team any favors in the AL East pennant chase.

In three games, he blew a save, lost another game in extra innings (two doubles to start, then a one-out, three-run home run) and struggled to save another (allowing two singles and double to his first three batters, putting the tying runs in scoring position).

In 3.1 innings, he allowed nine hits and five runs. Opposing batters lit him up to the tune of a .500 batting average and a .833 slugging percentage. His ERA for those three outings was 13.50.

Thankfully, for his team, he settled down in his last outing and did not give up any runs. But one has to wonder how much he can be trusted with the ball in the late innings at this stage of the season.

11 comments:

Your point is taken, I believe: even the best stumble for extended periods. I think you could categorize Gagne's struggles as worse, though. In his scoreless innings (including the key one right before the 9th inning comeback against Tampa Bay), he's come very close to giving up runs. No performance has been "SLAM! BANG! Door closed."

I *still* think he can be valuable, but I might be more comfortable running him out in the 7th with a 3-run lead or something the next time there's a chance...see if he "has it" at the time, build him in baby steps back to more crucial situations.

I admit: I'm kinda scared right now of the Yankees, but I hope the lead can be about 5 or 6 when the Sox get to Yankee Stadium next Tuesday. I'd like 5-2 for the non-Yankee portion of this road trip. Might be a lot to ask, except that it's the Devil Rays and White Sox...